07 to 09 April 2017
The annual Diospi Suyana
missionaries and staff retreat is held at the hospital chapel. The speakers this year are American’s Gary
and Frances Green whose topic was on time how to find rest in our work even
when busy. It was a message in season for many at Diospi
Suyana.
Gary was a vet before his career
change into the ministry. In 1991 after
a year in language school in San José, Costa Rica, Gary and Frances with their 4 children moved
to Venezuela where they lived for 9 years. There they
helped start congregations and two regional camps. They now support missionaries in South
America.
Here is what Klaus posted on the
Diospi Suyana website just after the event;
Dr. Gary and Frances Green have left Curahuasi. Diospi Suyana staff were thankful for their three-day seminar. Yesterday the couple, who currently live in Louisiana gave us feedback. What they told us amazed us no end: “We had several very long conversations with staff members. Not one of them spoke negatively about other team members!”
I think back to a sports club in
Wiesbaden, which I was a member of 35 years ago. Several players worked very hard to destroy
the reputations of other club members.
You come across the same in politics: who does not like to stab a knife
into the back of a rival while at the same time look at him faithfully in the
eye and assure him of the fact that everyone is only concerned for the party as
a whole.
Slander and intrigue, false
friends and backstabbers can be found in companies and clubs. Wherever people live together these base
motives can appear.
Gary and Frances assured my wife
and me: “No one spoke negatively about other team members!” – It is almost like
a little bit of heaven here on earth. We
have 260 members of staff and in any company or group of such a size it would
be normal to come across the group dynamic processes that abound elsewhere.
This morning I read some of the
words that Paul wrote to a group of Christians locked in a prison cell in Rome:
“Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being
one in spirit and of one mind…Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain
conceit… Do everything without grumbling or arguing!“ (Philippians
2:2-3;14). The Apostle Paul would have
rejoiced if he were sitting with us at the table. Being a Christian must be more than just
talking the talk. The acid test is our
daily interaction with others.
KDJ.
Here is the link to the original Diospi Suyana post (in
English);
We were also blessed by Armond
Anderyassian-Aznavooke (OK, just call him Armond!) from the UK and who we knew
from Arequipa ABC Español Language school - he tutored Sam’s guitar playing a
lot whilst there. What an amazing
musician! He also recorded some of his
new tracks at Diospi Suyana Media Centre for our radio and TV broadcasts.
 |
| Armond performing accompanied by Diospi missionary John Lentik on the piano |
Regards,
Chris
No comments:
Post a Comment